'Zimbabwe lags behind in mining technology'

MINES and Mining Development Deputy Minister Fred Moyo says the country is lagging behind in terms of gold production per person as compared to other countries in the region.

He said the country was producing an average of  32 tonnes of gold ore per employee per month compared to 46 tonnes of gold ore per worker per month, a disparity which he attributed to a gap in technological advancement in the country.

He said: "In the region other countries are producing an average of 46 tonnes (of gold ore) per employee per month but Zimbabwe is on 32 (tonnes of gold ore per employee per month above shaft).

"And, therefore, why should we earn the same salaries when we're producing 32 tonnes per employee when other countries are producing 46 tonnes per employee.

"It's not that our people are lazy but it's the planning that we're getting all wrong. We need to invest in the appropriate technology and increase our production."

The Deputy Minister said what was obtaining in the gold sector is the same with agriculture where there is low productivity.

He said plots, which can yield an average of 9 tonnes per hectare, were yielding a paltry two tonnes a hectare.

Low productivity levels in the gold sector come as the country is making strides to be readmitted and trade on the London Bullion Market after years of depressed gold production due to low capacity utilisation.

Last year the country produced 17, 3 tonnes and this year a target of 24 tonnes has been set.

Despite the low productivity levels, bullion deliveries to Fidelity Printers and Refineries stood at $4,6 tonnes in the first quarter of this year, a 36 percent increase from last year's 3, 9 tonnes in the period under review.